Radiculopathy & sciatica decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is denied.,The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for radiculopathy, left lower extremity and right lower extremity are both denied.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim of service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, finding that new evidence received after the initial denial is relevant and warrants reconsideration.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding proposed reductions in ratings for service-connected radiculopathy, femoral nerve, right lower extremity; paralysis of the sciatic nerve, right lower extremity; and paralysis of the sciatic nerve, left lower extremity. The Veteran requested withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the claims for OSA, low back disability, and left lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his low back disorder and right lower extremity sciatica was partially granted, with a 20% rating for the right lower extremity sciatica. The service connection claim for left lower extremity radiculopathy is remanded. The low back disorder claim remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection was timely filed, and the Board granted the appeal as a result of equitable tolling due to extraordinary circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to March 26, 2020, for a 40 percent rating for degenerative arthritis of the spine was denied. The Board found that there was no evidence showing forward flexion limited to 30 degrees or less, nor ankylosis of the thoracolumbar spine.,The Veteran's appeal for effective dates prior to March 26, 2020, for grants of service connection for right and/or left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied. The Board found that there was no evidence showing radiculopathy on any date certain prior to March 26, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his inability to use both lower extremities without assistive devices and lack of blindness in both eyes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further action regarding his TDIU claim due to incomplete records from the Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection as it had its onset during his military service. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, headache disorder, eczema, chronic dermatitis, abdominal pain-related disorder, lumbar spine disorder, lumbar radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and bilateral pes planus was denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions during or after his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. Additional VA medical opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy on a secondary basis to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease. Service connection for arthritis of the back and left/right lower extremity radiculopathy was dismissed as the benefit sought on appeal has been fully granted.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and related benefits due to lack of evidence showing the Veteran's conditions arose within one year of his initial claim or prior to the effective date of the previous award.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and potential errors in the initial rating decision. The issues include low back disability, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, neck disability, left hip osteoarthritis, and right hip osteoarthritis.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals regarding all issues related to service connection and rating for various conditions, including dental condition, GERD, right carpel tunnel syndrome/right upper extremity nerve damage, right shoulder condition, cervical strain, right upper extremity radiculopathy, tension headaches, and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, low back disorder, and right lower extremity radiculopathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active-duty service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for right lower extremity radiculopathy and service connection for erectile dysfunction are remanded due to deficiencies in the VA examinations and lack of relevant treatment records.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for entitlement to increased disability ratings for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy as the appellant requested withdrawal of his appeal.

The Board has dismissed the appeals seeking to revise the June 4, 2019 and November 18, 2019 rating decisions that granted effective dates for service connection. The appeal seeking to revise the September 1994 rating decision is remanded.